Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka are set to renew their rivalry at Indian Wells, eight years after their first encounter at the US Open. The two four-time Grand Slam singles champions are scheduled to face off in the Round of 16. This edition of Indian Wells is notable for featuring every one of the Top 35-ranked players on WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, a first for a non-Grand Slam event in four decades.
Sabalenka Seeks Revenge Against Osaka
Sabalenka has secured her place in the Round of 16 with straight-set victories in her first two matches. Osaka, however, was extended to three sets in her third-round match against Camila Osorio, eventually winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
Sabalenka expressed her eagerness to play Osaka after defeating Jaqueline Cristian. “I would like to play her,” Sabalenka said, adding, “It would be for sure a fashion show at the beginning. Then a crazy match. She’s a great player. Came back after pregnancy. Incredible shape. I have been watching her matches, really admire her.”
Sabalenka acknowledged their previous encounter, saying, “I think we played only once, isn’t it?” She is looking forward to a chance at revenge. “I’ll have a chance to get a revenge, hopefully,” Sabalenka said.
Osaka Reflects on Previous Match
Osaka remembers her previous match against Sabalenka. “For me, it’s really exciting. I have watched her, I don’t want to say `grow over the years,’ because I think she’s only a little bit younger than me and I feel like an old person. But yeah, I have watched her grow over the years,” Osaka said.
Osaka recalled the difficulty of their first match eight years ago. “Just because I felt like in that tournament, that was the hardest match for me,” Osaka said. “I remember thinking, like, we’re both going to get very far. So, yeah, obviously I was right.
“It was definitely a really difficult match. It’s really cool to see how far we both have come.”
Indian Wells Sees Record Attendance
The quality of the field at Indian Wells has drawn significant attention. Friday saw a single-day attendance record of 58,828, which was surpassed on Saturday with 60,781 attendees. Sunday’s attendance was 56,655, bringing the weekend total to 176,264.
- Friday attendance: 58,828
- Saturday attendance: 60,781
- Sunday attendance: 56,655
The tournament also features a strong contingent of young players. Alexandra Eala, Linda Noskova, Talia Gibson and Victoria Mboko are 21 or younger. Gibson is the only qualifier left in the draw.
Three of the four Round of 16 matches are new matchups, adding to the anticipation for Tuesday’s matches. The Sabalenka-Osaka match is one to watch.